OPINION: Proposed new rules for a J-1 visa will hinder America’s fight against Covid-19

Proposed new rules for a J-1 visa will hinder U.S. fight against Covid-19 Today, thousands of foreign national physicians are on the frontlines in U.S. hospitals, working to keep Covid-19 patients alive. Patrick Skerrett STAT

Covid-19 infections once again surge across the United States, one of the biggest obstacles to saving lives is a shortage of doctors. A federal proposal to change the rules for foreign-born physicians working here will make the problem worse.

For decades, foreign national physicians have come to the U.S. to complete their medical training in teaching hospitals. They enter the country with J-1 visas, which authorize them to remain in the U.S. for the full duration of their training programs, which can range from one to seven years.

This program is good for the physicians, who are able to train in high-caliber teaching hospitals. It also benefits the millions of Americans who live in rural areas that face a shortage of physicians. Even in many urban areas, there aren’t enough doctors, and the problem is growing. The Association of American Medical Colleges forecasts a shortage of as many as 139,000 physicians by 2033.

Today, thousands of foreign national physicians are on the frontlines in U.S. hospitals, working to keep Covid-19 patients alive.

So it’s incredible to me that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wants to hold the threat of deportation over these physicians. DHS is proposing to rewrite visa regulations that would severely limit the ability of foreign national physicians to remain in the U.S. for the duration of their training at a time when we desperately need them.

Foreign national physicians are so essential to helping fill the void that each state has an annual program that allots waivers to permit a certain number of foreign national physicians to remain in the U.S. after their training is completed for an additional three years if they agree to practice in an underserved area. ...